Laundering device



Patented Aug. 12, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LAUNDERING DEVICEWayne Gibbons, Cleveland, Ohio, assignor to Peter Cherniss ApplicationAugust 21, 1950, Serial No. 180,564

- 7 Claims. 1 I 1 My invention relates to devices for washing fabrics,clothing and the like and particularly to manuallyoperable devices. IThe objector my invention is to provide a simple and convenient devicewhereby clothing and other fabrics may be readily laundered withoutexpensive or cumbersome equipment and with safety for the fabrics'orclothing.

suited for the purpose.

Another object is the provision of apparatus for manually launderingsmall batches of clothing and the like to perform the same withefficiency and ease.

Another object is the provision of a pair of novel elements adapted tocooperate for the laundering of clothing and thelike as and whenconvenient and without cumbersome and expensive machinery.

Other objects and a fuller understanding of this invention may be had bereferring to the following description and claims, taken in conjunctionwith the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view looking down upon the top of my device; and

Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of my device taken along the line 22of Figure 1.

, My laundering or washing device is comprised of .two separableelements adapted to mate and cooperate in the laundering, operation.These elements are similar to each other and each has the same parts.Each element has a disk memher .I of generally round shape and ofrelatively rigid material. The disk member I may be made of moldedplastic, of metal or of other suitable material. Each disk member I hasa central flat portion 2 disposed in a flat plane and intermediate itsperipheral edges. Extending around the border of each disk member Ithere is a relieved portion or channel portion 3. This relieved portion3 extends back from the central portion 2 as shown and then in a curveextends forwardly to terminate at the peripheral edge portion or bead 6.The relieved portion or channel portion 3 extends in a gradual slope 6from the flat edge portion, as indicated in the drawing.

The relieved portion or channel 3 forms an annular groove or recess 5extending around the boundary of each disk member I. It is to be notedthat the outer wall of the recess 5, terminating with the edge portionor bead 4, is substantially straight as it approaches the peripheraledge.

Each element of my device, besides including the disk member 5, alsoincludes a cup member 1. Each cup member '5 consists of a sponge-likematerial and I have found that the porous rubber sponge or a porouscellulose sponge is well The material of each cup member I is such as toabsorb liquid, such as a washing liquid of water and soap, when immersedin such liquid, and is also resilient and deformable. Upon compressionof the sponge material of the cup member, liquid in the pores of the cupmember is forceably expelled. Also the material of the cup member issuch that it may be compressed or tightly squeezed and is resilientlydeformable in response to pressure applied to it.

There is formed in each cup member I a recess 8, the recess 8 beingcentrally located between the peripheral edges of the cup member and onone side thereof. The general outline shape of the cup member 1corresponds to the outline shape of the disk member I. The outerboundary of the recess 8 generally conform in shape to the outer outlineof the cup member I, but is of smaller dimension so as to leave thedefining wall 9 surrounding the recess 8. Each cup member 7, therefore,has an open space or recess 8 on a side thereof. In general, the heightof the defining wall 9 above the bottom wall is approximately the sameas the thickness of the bottom walldisposed adjacent the disk member.

The bottom Wall of each disk member is sesured to the adjacent flatcentral portion 2 of-a respective disk member I. The 'securement ispreferably done by means of a suitable cement or adhesive materialdisposed between the cup member i and the flat central portion 2. Ofcourse, other suitable securing means may be utilized for firmlysecuring each disk member I and respective cup member I together, sothat a cup member is carried by each diskmember.

There is a peripheral portion IB-on the back side of each cup member I,which is aligned with the defining wall 9 and which substantially coversor registers with the annular groove 5 of a respective disk member. Innon-operating condition, the peripheral portion Ill extends straightacross to substantially cover the groove 5, as shown in Figure 2 of thedrawing. The cup member I does not extend outwardly quite to the outerWall of the disk member I at the peripheral edge portion 4, there beinga clearance or small space II between the outer edges of a cup member Iand respective disk member I, as is seen in Figure 2 of the drawing.

In the operation of my device, the two elements are moved by hand, oneelement being entirely separate from the other. A small batch of fabricor clothing is placed within the recess 8 of one of the elements. Soapand detergent may be added to the clothing, as desired, and within therecess. The other element is then placed over the first element so as tomate the defining walls together and to register the recesses 8. This isthe position of the parts shown in Figure 2. It is seen that the tworecesses 8 together form a chamber or compartment for holding theclothing or fabric to be washed. Holding the two elements together withthe hands, the joined elements are then immersed in water, either in apool of water or under running water so that the water enters into thechamber holding the clothing and is absorbed in the sponge material ofthe two cup members 1. Of course, other washing liquid may be used asWell as water and soap. The dimensions of the parts are preferably suchthat the operator may stretch his or her hands across from one diskmember to the other and thus clamp the elements together by a grip ofthe hands. By squeezing with the hands, the two disk members I may bemoved toward each other, either in a straight line or by alternatelytipping one side, then the other. By squeezing the two disk memberstogether, the cup members are compressed and to some extent collapse.The liquid absorbed in the sponge material of the cup members isforceably expelled under pressure. The expelled liquid tends to beforced through the interstices of the fabric or clothing being washed bythe device, and this forcing of liquid through the fabric or clothingtends to clean them, as is well known. The fabric or clothing is alsomanipulated and compressed by the opposed bottom walls of the cupmembers 1. By alternately pressing the disk members together andreleasing the pressure so that the cup members may resume their normalshape (shown in Figure 2), a vigorous washing action is obtained. Liquidis alternately expelled from the cup members and forced through thefabric, and the fabric or the like is being alternately pressed andmanipulated to obtain a good washing action.

Upon the pressing of the elements tightly together, the cup members 1 inthe region of the groove 5 may swingback against the sloping wall 6 andinto the groove 5. In other words, the groove 5 of each disk memberpermits the cup member 1 to be displaced from the plane of the flatcentral portion 2 and back into the groove 5. This is most desirablebecause the cup member I is thicker around its peripheral edge and inalignment with the defining wall 9. By permitting the cup members I inalignment with the defining walls 9 and registering with the grooves '5to be so displaced, the cup members may be more readily brought togetherin tight compression and the flat bottom walls of the cup members may bemoved closer together in the compressing movement. Thus, the outerperipheral portion of the cup members I may readily swing back into therespective grooves 5 and the bottom opposed wall of the cup members Imay more readily be brought into tight pressing engagement. Theclearance H facilitates the swinging of the peripheral portion 10 ofeach cup member I back into the groove 5 and substantially against thesloping wall 6 of each disk member I.

After the soapy water or other washing liquid has been thoroughly workedthrough the fabric,

clothes or the like by the alternate pressing of the two elementstogether as described, the two joined elements with contents may beplaced in a rinsing liquid, such as clear water. Then by alternatelypressing the disk members together and releasing them by a handsqueezing operation, the rinsing liquid or clear water is expelled fromthe sponge material of the cup members and forced through theinterstices of the fabric, thoroughly rinsing the same. After removal ofthe assembled device from the water or other liquid, the parts may beagain manipulated by alternately compressing the elements, that is, byalternately pressing and releasing the disk members, and this will tendto force water or other liquid from the fabric or clothing to thuspartially dry the same. After this pressing operation to remove theexcess liquid or water, the upper element is removed from the lowerelement so as to separate the two cup members and to thus divide thechamber. The fabric, clothing or other material may then be removed fromthe recess 8 of the containing element and it is then in a thoroughlylaundered condition.

This device is particularly convenient and appropriate for home use andfor laundering small batches of clothing and the like. It does notinvolve elaborate apparatus or machinery and is extremely simple tooperate. The results obtained are surprisingly good and the deviceserves an extremely useful purpose.

Although this invention has been described in its preferred form with acertain degree of particularity, it is understood that the presentdisclosure of the preferred form has been made only by way of exampleand that numerous changes in the details of construction and thecombination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafterclaimed.

What is claimed is:

1. A device for washing clothes and the like comprising in combination apair of relatively rigid disk members, each of said disk members havinga groove adjacent its peripheral edge and having a substantially fiatcentral portion, the wall of said groove extending rearwardly from saidfiat central portion, a pair of resiliently flexible and porous cupmembers, each of said cup members having a recess surrounded by theperipheral wall of the cup member, and securing means securing the backwall of each cup member to the flat central portion of a respective diskmember, each cup member and respective disk member being positioned inaxial alignment and the peripheral wall of said cup member being alignedwith, and substantially covering, said groove in the respective diskmember, the peripheral edge of the respective disk member being disposedlaterally outward of said cup member, the arrangement of said diskmember and cup members secured thereto being such that the peripheralwalls of the cup members may mate with said recesses opposed to eachother to form a chamber for clothes and the like and upon pressing saiddisk members together said cup members may be compressed to collapsesaid chamber and to expel fluid in the porous cup members through saidclothes and the like and the peripheral wall of each cup member may bedepressed into the groove of the respective disk member.

2. A device for washing clothes and the like comprising a pair ofsimilar members, each of said members comprising a relatively rigid diskmember and a resilient and porous cup member carried by the disk member,said cup member having a recess formed therein, the resilient and porousmaterial of the cup member forming a bottom wall and surrounding sidewall of said recess, said diskmember being disposed on the side of thecup member opposite to said'recess and providing" a backing support forsaid cup membensaid disk member being relieved from saidcup member atthe location of said side wall to permit saidside wall to be displacedupon compression of the side wall'toward'the said disk member, thecombination of said similar members being such that clothes and the likemay be placed in said recesses and between the cup members, and the cupmembers containing the clothes and the like maybe saturated with liquid,and movement of the disk members toward each other compresses said cupmembers to squeeze said clothes and the like, to expel liquid in thepores of the cup member through said clothes and the like, and-todisplace said side wall of the respective cup members for diminishmentof the volume of said recesses.

3. Inapparatus for the washing of clothes and the like, an elementcomprising a disk member having a substantially-flat central portion anda depressed portion extending rearwardly from and surrounding saidcentral portion, and a cup member secured to, and supported by, saidcentral portion, said cup member being formed of compressible,deformable and porous sponge material adapted to absorb liquid and toexpel the same upon compression and to resiliently deform in response topressure, said cup member having a recess centrally located on a sidethereof, the cup member laterally outward of said recess being alignedto substantially register with said depressed portion of said diskmember, a pair of said elements being adapted to accommodate clothes andthe like placed therebetween in the chamber formed by opposed recessesof the elements, movement of said elements relative to each otherproviding compression of the cup members of the elements and partialdisplacement thereof rearwardly into the depressed portions of therespective disk members.

4. A device for washing fabrics by hand comprising a pair of similarelements adapted to accommodate said fabrics therebetween and to subjectthe same to a washing liquid, each of said elements comprising acup-like member of resilient and porous sponge material, said cuplikemembers having opposed recesses adapted to form upon mating of thecup-like members a chamber for accommodating said fabrics therein, eachsaid cup-like members having a defining wall around the said recess, anda backing member of relatively rigid material axially aligned with, andsecured to the back of, each said cup-like member on its side oppositesaid recess, each said backing member engaging a respective cup-likemember intermediate its peripheral edges to provide support thereto,each said backing member having a groove around its peripheral extentand registered with the defining wall of the respective cup-like member,the mouth of said groove opening forwardly toward the respectivecup-like member, the peripheral edge of each of said backing memberaround said groove extending laterally outward from the peripheral edgeof the respective cuplike member and free therefrom to permit relativemovement therebetween, the inner wall of said groove opposite from theperipheral edge of each said backing member being on a gradual slopeextending rearwardly from the respective cup-like member, thearrangement of said cuplike members and backing members being such thatmovement of the backing members toward each other upon the mating of thecup-like members with fabrics in the chamber formed by said recessescompresses said cup-like members to expel liquid absorbed therein and todisplace said defining wall into said groove and against said slopingwall of the groove, whereby said fabric is washedby manipulation andmovement of liquid therethrough.

5. In apparatus for the washing of clothes and the like, a devicecomprising a relatively rigid disk member and a cup member secured to,and carried by, the disk member, said cup member being formed ofcompressible, deformable and porous sponge material adapted to absorbliquid and expel the same upon compression and to resiliently deform inresponse to pressure, said cup member having a recess centrally locatedon a first side thereof, the bottom and side walls of said recess havingthe porosity of said sponge material, the opposite side of said cupmember being disposed in a substantially fiat plane, said disk memberhaving a substantially fiat portion disposed in'said plane and at acentral location spaced from the peripheral edges of said cup member,the fiat portion of the disk member providing backing for said cupmember at said central location, the edge portions of the said cupmember aligned with said side walls and bordering said peripheral edgesbeing extended in said plane outwardly beyond the peripheral boundary ofsaid fiat portion of said disk member to permit displacement from saidplane away from said first side, the arrangement of cup member and diskmember providing for the displacement of said edge portions of the cupmember upon the compression of the cup member by a force exerted uponsaid first side of the cup member, a pair of said devices providing forwashing manipulation of material placed within the chamber formed bymating recesses of opposed cup members.

6. A device for washing fabrics by hand comprising a pair of similarelements adapted to accommodate said fabrics therebetween and to subjectthe same to a washing liquid, each of said elements comprising acup-like member of resilient and porous sponge material, said cuplikemembers having opposed recesses adapted to form upon mating of thecup-like members a chamber for accommodating said fabrics therein, eachsaid cup-like member having a defining wall around the said recess, anda backing member of relatively rigid material axially aligned with, andsecured to the back of, each said cuplike member on its side oppositesaid recess, each said backing member engaging a respective cuplikemember intermediate its peripheral edges to provide support thereto,each said backing member around its peripheral extent and rearwardly ofthe said cup-like member being withdrawn from said cup-like member toprovide an open space between the backing member and cup member inalignment with the said defining wall around the recess of therespective cup member, the arrangement of the cup-like members andbacking membersbeing such that movement of the backing members towardeach other upon the mating of the cup-like members with fabrics in thechamber formed by said recesses compresses said cup-like members toexpel liquid absorbed therein and to displace said defining walls intosaid open space, whereby said fabric is washed by manipulation of liquidtherethrough.

7. Apparatus for manually manipulating clothes and the like in a washingliquid to wash the same comprising in combination, a pair of cup-likemembers of resilient and porous sponge material adapted to absorb andexpel liquid and to be deformed under pressure, said cup-like membershaving opposed recesses adapted to form a chamber for said clothes andthe like upon mating of said cup-like members, the resilient and porousmaterial of each cup member forming the bottom wall and surrounding sidewall of the respective recesses, and a pair of backing members eachsecured to and supporting a respective cup-like member, each of saidbacking members having a portion positioned in alignment with the recessof a respective cuplike member and engaging the cup-like member toprovide a backing to the bottom wall of said recess, the peripheralboundary of said portion of each backing member being spaced inwardly ofthe peripheral boundary of the respective cuplike member to permitdisplacement of said cuplike member adjoining its peripheral boundaryaway from the plane of said portion, movement of said backing memberstoward each other upon mating of the cup-like members compressing anddeforming said cup-like members and displacing REFERENCES CITED Thefollowing references are of record in the file of this patent: J v

UNITED S' IATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,326,265 Hobbs Dec. 30, 19191,524,008 Anastasia Jan. 27, 1925 FOREIGN PATENTS 7 Number Country Date610,696 Germany Apr.'3, 1935 444,237 Great Britain Mar. 17, 1936

